Scientists have discovered a previously unknown part of the lungs in a person: it can help in the treatment of respiratory diseases

Scientists have discovered an entirely new type of cell lurking inside the thin, branched passageways of the human lung. According to the study, these cells play a vital role in maintaining the normal functioning of the respiratory system. And may inspire new therapies to reverse the effects of some smoking-related diseases. LIVESCIENCE

Airway secretory cells (RAS) are found in tiny branched passages called bronchioles. They end in alveoli, which carry out the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. The new RAS cells are like stem cells, “blank canvas” cells that can differentiate into any other type of cell in the body. They are able to repair damaged alveolar cells and transform into new ones.

The researchers discovered the RAS cells after being frustrated when using mouse lungs as a model of the human respiratory system. Due to certain differences between lungs, scientists have tried to fill in some of the gaps in knowledge about human lungs. To better understand these differences at the cellular level, the team took lung tissue samples from healthy donors. And analyzed the genes in individual cells, which revealed previously unknown RAS cells.

“We know that the airways of the human lung are organized differently than those of the mouse,” said Edward Morrisey, a professor of respiratory systems at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. “But new technologies have only recently allowed us to sample and identify unique cell types.” The team also found RAS cells in ferrets, which have respiratory systems more similar to those of humans. As a result, researchers suspect that most mammals, equal or larger in size, probably have RAS cells in their lungs.

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RAS cells perform two main functions in the lungs. They secrete molecules that maintain a fluid sheath along the bronchioles, helping to prevent airway destruction and maximizing lung efficiency. They can also act as progenitor cells for alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells, a special type of alveolus that releases a chemical that is partly used to repair other damaged alveoli. This means that RAS cells play a vital role in maintaining lung health.

Researchers believe that RAS cells may play a key role in smoking-related diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is the result of inflammation of the airways inside the lungs, which can be caused by smoking and air pollution. Inflammation of the airways makes it difficult for the lungs to properly absorb enough oxygen; as a result, COPD has symptoms similar to asthma. COPD can also lead to emphysema, in which the alveoli are constantly destroyed, and chronic bronchitis, a long and intense cough, usually accompanied by excess phlegm. According to the World Health Organization, every year more than 3 million people worldwide die from COPD.

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Theoretically, RAS cells should prevent or at least mitigate the effects of COPD by repairing damaged alveoli. However, scientists suspect that smoking can damage or even completely destroy new cells. And this leads to diseases such as COPD. Patients with this condition are often prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs or oxygen therapy to help relieve their symptoms. However, these are only temporary solutions and do not help reverse lung damage. RAS cells could potentially be used to improve therapies or even treat COPD if researchers can properly exploit the regenerative properties of these cells.

“We really don't know yet if this discovery could lead to a potential cure for COPD,” Morrisey said. “However, since COPD is a disease about which we know very little, any new insight should help those in the field start thinking about new therapeutic approaches.”